---
title: "Mission building permits: when you need one and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?"
place: Mission, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/mission
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Mission
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/building-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/building-permit.json"
---

# Mission building permits: when you need one and how to apply

**Question:** Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?

**Short answer:** In the City of Mission you need a building permit for new construction, additions (including decks), renovations such as a secondary suite, detached buildings over 15 m², pool houses, pools, demolition and solar panels. Roofing, painting and flooring do not need one. Call Inspection Services at 604-820-3726 if unsure.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Mission, https://www.mission.ca)  
**Cost:** Fees are set by Building Bylaw 3590-2003, Schedule A. A non-refundable application fee is paid with the application, and the permit fee is based on the value of construction. See the building permit fees answer.  
**How long:** The City states no fixed time. After the application is accepted and the application fee is paid, it joins a queue for detailed code review. The City posts current wait times on its website.  
**Where:**
- In person: Inspection Services (Building Inspection), Welton Common Building, 7337 Welton Street, Mission, BC V2V 3X1 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Inspection Services, 604-820-3726
- Email: Inspection Services, iservices@mission.ca
- Online: Building Permit Wait Times, https://www.mission.ca/wait-times

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** New construction, additions (including adding or increasing a deck), alterations and renovations (such as a secondary suite or finishing a basement), plumbing and sprinkler work, detached accessory buildings and structures over 15 m², pool houses (sheds) of any size, retaining structures over 0.6 m, demolition, moving a building, solar panels, swimming pools, change of use and tenant improvements.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.mission.ca/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is required for all types of buildings for:" … "Detached accessory buildings and structures greater than 15m2 (161.4ft2), such as:" … "Retaining structures greater than 0.6m" … "Installation of solar panels" … "Installation of a swimming pool" … "Demolition of a building" … "Pool houses (sheds) regardless of size"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 5.1](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-3590-2003pdf-1)
  - Official wording: "No person shall commence or continue any work related to Construction unless that person has a valid Permit authorizing same."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not needed for:** Roofing, cladding, painting, flooring and minor plumbing repairs. Bylaw: no permit for a single-storey accessory building or unmodified shipping container serving a one- or two-family home if 15 m² (161.4 ft²) or less. The City page says accessory buildings under 15 m² are exempt unless they create a hazard, but also lists pool houses (sheds) as needing a permit regardless of size.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.mission.ca/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "A Permit is NOT required for:" … "Minor Plumbing Repairs" … "Accessory buildings less than 15m2 (161.4ft2), unless they create a hazard"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 7.19(a)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-3590-2003pdf-1)
  - Official wording: "No Permit is required:" … "does not exceed 15 square meters (161.4 square feet) in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Start with a Pre-Submission Review: the City checks that planning and engineering matters are settled and the application is complete before accepting it. Application forms are in the City's Form Library; a non-refundable application fee is paid with the application.
  - Source: [Pre-Submission Review, Pre-Submission Review page](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/pre-submission-review)
  - Official wording: "prior to accepting a building permit application" … "incomplete applications cannot be accepted"
  - Source: [Building Permit Checklists, Checklists page](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/checklists)
  - Official wording: "All referenced forms in the checklist can be found in our Form Library"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 7.1(f)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-3590-2003pdf-1)
  - Official wording: "be accompanied by payment of the non-refundable Permit application fee"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What to submit:** Application form, owner's undertaking, title search printed within 30 days, registered covenants and easements, and at least 2 sets of scaled plans (site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, details). Extra items depend on the project, such as sealed engineering, stormwater or sprinkler plans; the City has a checklist for each project type.
  - Source: [Accessory Building Submission Checklist, Accessory Building checklist](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/accessory-building-submission-checklist)
  - Official wording: "Title Search (Copy of title printed within 30 days of application date)" … "2 Sets of design plans (Site plan, foundation plan, floor plans, elevations, sections and details)"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 7.1(e), (j)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-3590-2003pdf-1)
  - Official wording: "at least 2 copies of the" … "be accompanied by a copy of a title search made within 30 days of the date of the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Processing time:** No fixed time is stated. After the application is accepted and the application fee paid, it is given a permit number and placed in a queue for detailed code review. The City posts current wait times on its website.
  - Source: [Building Permit Wait Times, Wait Times page](https://www.mission.ca/wait-times)
  - Official wording: "considered in-queue for detailed code review" … "Once an application is accepted and the non-refundable application fee paid, a building permit number is assigned"
  - Source: [Pre-Submission Review, Pre-Submission Review page](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/pre-submission-review)
  - Official wording: "the application is assigned a building permit number and placed into the queue for review"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inspections:** Book online with the inspection booking tool, using the 8-digit permit number; each permit number needs its own booking. 24 hours' notice is required; requests after 3:00 p.m. are processed the next business day. To cancel or reschedule, phone 604-820-3726 by 9:00 a.m. on the inspection day.
  - Source: [Inspections, Inspections page](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/building-permits-and-inspections/inspections)
  - Official wording: "All inspections must be booked by using the online inspection booking tool." … "24 hours notice is required in order for inspections to be properly scheduled" … "after the cut-off time of 3:00 pm will be processed the following business day" … "To cancel or reschedule an inspection please call 604-820-3726 by 9:00 am on the date of the scheduled inspection."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 6.1(c)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-3590-2003pdf-1)
  - Official wording: "give to the Building Official at least 24"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Contact:** Inspection Services (Building Inspection), Welton Common Building, 7337 Welton Street: 604-820-3726, iservices@mission.ca. Office hours Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.mission.ca/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "contact the Building Inspection Division at iservices@mission.ca or (604)820-3726" … "The Building Inspection Department is located in the Welton Common Building at 7337 Welton Street, Mission, BC."
  - Source: [Inspections, Inspections page](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/building-permits-and-inspections/inspections)
  - Official wording: "8:00 am to 4:30 pm"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw 3590-2003
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), title](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-3590-2003pdf-1)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW 3590-2003 This document is a consolidation of "District of Mission Building Bylaw 3590-2003" with the"
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.mission.ca/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "The City of Mission regulates construction under Building Bylaw 3590-2003."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Mission regulates construction under [Building Bylaw 3590-2003](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-3590-2003pdf-1) and the BC Building Code. Inspection Services reviews applications and inspects the work. No one may start construction work without a valid permit.

A permit is needed for new construction, additions (including adding or increasing a deck), alterations and renovations (such as a secondary suite or finishing a basement), plumbing and sprinkler work, detached buildings over 15 m², pool houses of any size, retaining structures over 0.6 m, demolition, moving a building, solar panels, swimming pools, change of use and tenant improvements.

## Steps

1. Check whether your project needs a permit, or ask Inspection Services.
2. Start with a Pre-Submission Review. The City checks that planning and engineering matters are settled and the application is complete before it accepts it.
3. Pick the checklist for your project type and gather the forms and plans from the Form Library.
4. Pay the non-refundable application fee. The application then gets a permit number and joins the queue for detailed code review.
5. Pay the balance of the permit fee before the permit issues, then book inspections online with your 8-digit permit number (each permit number needs its own booking).

## Good to know

- No permit is needed for roofing, cladding, painting, flooring or minor plumbing repairs.
- Accessory buildings: the bylaw exempts a single-storey accessory building or unmodified shipping container serving a one- or two-family home if it is 15 m² (161.4 ft²) or less. The City's page also lists pool houses (sheds) as needing a permit regardless of size, so confirm with Inspection Services before building one.
- Inspections need 24 hours' notice; requests after 3:00 p.m. are processed the next business day. To cancel or reschedule, phone 604-820-3726 by 9:00 a.m. on the inspection day.
- All new construction needs an automatic sprinkler system under Fire Sprinkler Bylaw 5679-2017; renovations, additions and accessory buildings may be affected.
- Electrical and gas permits come from Technical Safety BC (1-866-566-7233), not the City.
- Current review wait times are on the City's wait times page; they change, so check before you apply.

## What you'll need

- Building Permit Application form and Owner's Undertaking form (from the City's Form Library)
- A title search printed within 30 days, plus copies of registered covenants and easements
- At least 2 sets of scaled plans (site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, details), with sealed engineering, stormwater or sprinkler plans where the checklist for your project asks

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permits (City of Mission)](https://www.mission.ca/building-permits)
- [Building Permit Checklists (one per project type)](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/checklists)
- [Form Library (filter by Building)](https://www.mission.ca/forms)
- [Pre-Submission Review](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/pre-submission-review)
- [Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-3590-2003pdf-1)

## Related questions

- [Mission building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Mission permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Mission secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/secondary-suite.md)
- [Mission zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/building-permit.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/building-permit.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/building-permit.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/building-permit.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/building-permit.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/building-permits) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Pre-Submission Review, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/pre-submission-review) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permit Checklists, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/checklists) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Accessory Building Submission Checklist (PDF), City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/accessory-building-submission-checklist) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permit Wait Times, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/wait-times) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Inspections, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/planning-building-business/building-permits-and-inspections/inspections) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-3590-2003pdf-1) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Mission. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/building-permit/_